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Summary:

“Senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school with a stolen gun, he threatens his girlfriend, Emily Beam, and then takes his own life. Soon after, angry and guilt-ridden Emily is sent to a boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where two quirky fellow students and the spirit of Emily Dickinson offer helping hands. But it is up to Emily Beam to heal her own damaged self, to find the good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.” – Goodreads

My Thoughts:

This book starts of with Emily moving and starting at a new boarding school. It is very apparent that she has been hurt in some way and that something terrible has happened in her life. The book doesn’t waste any time in telling you that her boyfriend, Paul, killed himself. The ‘hows’, ‘whys’, and ‘situation’ however, only gets told slowly throughout the story. Which is something I really liked! Knowing something and slowly getting the details, was really enticing and strangely emotional.

Whats more, is Emily is a Poet and throughout the book the reader gets to read all her amazing poems and unravel what they mean. Some she writes as she is feeling something and some she writes as you get more information about the past. I don’t think I have ever read a book with so many poems in them and I must say I really enjoyed the change! Maybe I should read more poetry!

This story is set at the same boarding school Emily Dickinson went to, and all the facts about Emily Dickinson’s story were woven together beautifully with Emily Beam’s story! The pacing was slow and burning and I think the cover fits the story in a very gorgeous way! I also love a book that shows past events and switches to the present so flawlessly!

I also love a boarding school setting – and this one did not disappoint. Great and quirky teachers and students also helped bring the story to life. Not to mention the beautiful writing that made it all seem so real.

Overall this was a very sad and heartfelt story about a young girl who gets dealt some pretty bad cards in her life. It makes you feel for her and hope for her future. A really touching novel!